Villagers torch suspected brewers’ houses

By VINCENT MABATUK

Nakuru, Kenya: There was drama in Nakuru County on Sunday when irate residents held a day-long demonstration and stormed illicit liquor dens burning down seven houses of people suspecting to be brewers.

Angry residents claimed a fellow villager has become a notorious illicit liquor brewer in Rongai sub-county Sarambei village. The villagers accused the area Provincial Administration of working in cahoots with the brewers and allowing the brewery to thrive for years.

The residents threatened to take unspecified action against the area chief and accused the brewers of disrespecting a presidential directive that all illicit brews should be wiped out.

The villagers claimed they had organised the demonstration following the death of three people in the area in less than two weeks after consuming illicit brews.

The villagers said the third victim was discovered dead at Molo River next to one of the raided homesteads while they were making their way to a fund-raising towards burial expenses of another resident who died on Tuesday under similar circumstances.